Question:
Why does my skin look like this?

I am severely obese and have noticed that the skin around my neck is disclored. It looks like my neck is dirty, however, I know its not. I went to the dermatologist a few years back and she said it was from being obese and had some long medical term I can't remember. I also have this discloration in between my thighs. Can anyone tell me if they have had this problem and if so, what was the diagnosis? Also, will it go away after WLS? Thank you for any input.    — Janine L. (posted on September 28, 2002)

September 28, 2002
Hi, I haven't had a problem with neck discoloration, but my mother did. After she lost weight, the discoloration on her neck went away. I took about 6 months though. I have had a bunch of little moles burned off of my neck, which my Dr. said was also related to obesity. As if being obese isn't enough. lol. Toodles
   — Sherry S.

September 28, 2002
Hi, I had the discoloration between the thighs and it has disappeared. Didn't have the problem with neck but I have a friend who is a diabetic and severely overweight who has it. The most noteable improvement is no more skin tags on my neck or underarms! These are those little (can be big) bumps that are skin colored and stick out. I don't have them anymore and I had the ones that I did have removed. No big deal the doc just clips them off. AND they don't come back! Good luck!
   — Mylou52

September 28, 2002
Janine, the diagnosis is Acanthosis Nigricans. This condition is often associated with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS). Have you ever had any problems with irregular or absent periods? Infertility? Excess facial or body hair? Adult acne? These are just a few of the symptoms. Not everyone who has the brown skin patches has PCOS, but many do, so I just thought I would mention it. Best of luck to you.
   — Lori B.

September 28, 2002
I am a black female and as a teenager, I developed discoloration on my neck that made it look like it was dirty. I bought alcohol wipes and stridex pads and would clean my neck about four times a day, until I began to suffer worse skin problems (I dried it out) and went to a dermatologist. He said it was from being obese and could not be helped. Years later as I began having discloration on my cheeks and over my eyes (people thought I had eyeshadow on), I went to another dermatologist who said it was some long medical name and gave me two prescriptions. They worked for a while, then the disclorations returned. As I have been losing weight, I noticed the discloration on my neck is improving. So maybe it was related to weight or it could be because I have more neck now. lol
   — Lisa N M.

September 28, 2002
My 9 year old little girl has it and has for years. Although we're white its especially common among native americans. I also can never remember the name because of the length. Its shows up in people as a precurser to diabetes as well as a type of cancer (I'm thinking endocrine related). She has it all the way around her neck, under her arms, and on her inner thighs. Its almost velvety and dark. I too scrubbed her nearly raw thinking she was just not getting clean - wrong. The doctors associate hers to being overweight (although so young) and also her strong likelyhood of becoming diabetic. One more note is that she's now found to have low thyroid levels. (*note here - definately contributed to weight factor!! which in turns contributes to a higher risk for diabetes!!) They said that as her HORMONES change during puberty she may lose some of the darkness or see considerable lightening of it. So perhaps as your situation with it changes it could be hormonally related? Just a thought.
   — Shelly S.

September 29, 2002
You are describing Acanthosis Nigrigans associated with diabetes and insulin resistance.
   — Suzanne D.

September 29, 2002
I have the same problem. It's on my neck, underarms & inner thighs. I'm glad you posted this question, because I was too embarassed to ask! It makes me feel better to read that it goes away once the weight is lost. Maybe I'll be able to have short hair sometime in the future. Just another reason for me to go ahead with the WLS!! Thanks again! =)
   — Courtney G.

September 30, 2002
I know some people that have that same problem. I started to notice it around my neck and on the insides of my elbows. When I asked my doc about it, he said it is an early sign of diabetes. Go get checked! :o)
   — fropunka